I am looking for an engagement ring. My max budget is 5k, but obviously the lower the price and still obtaining great quality is priority. I prefer anywhere between a .7 to .9 carat diamond. VS2+ clarity is preferred. I like solitaire 4 prong settings. I have found a few I am interested in so far, but am always searching for different / better options.

Below is my favorite choice so far, but I am afraid of buying a “painted girdle” diamond and losing higher quality brilliance when seen from eye view.

I think your Blue Nile diamond selection is just fine. Painting is an industry term used to define the shifting of upper and/or lower girdle facets toward the mains so angles are closer together.

In general, painting on the crown can be positive and is often used to enhance light reflection. In these cases, it is considered a “tweaked girdle”. The end result is almost no light leakage.

Brian Gavin Diamonds is a popular vendor that uses the enhanced painting of a diamond’s crown to maximize overall brilliance of a diamond. His Signature cut diamonds all have been given careful attention using these techniques and as such they are considered by many to be among the best cut diamonds in the world.

Therefore, do not be afraid of a painted girdle if it is graded by a reputable lab like AGS. In fact, most round brilliant diamonds exhibit some degree of painting on the girdle. There are various tolerances to painting/digging for both GIA and AGS, but painting that is done on a small scale can and does enhance a diamond’s brilliance.

That being said, I like this .80 ct H VS1 diamond from Brian Gavin for you. Feel free to let me know your thoughts as well as any additional questions.

Kind Regards,

Liz

Q:

Hey Liz,

Thanks so much for the quick response. I have decided to purchase the diamond you suggested with a solitaire 4 prong platinum setting from BGD. I made the decision on the following factors: better visual photos of the diamond and BGD’s recommendation of AGS.

Thanks again,

Eric

A:

Hey Eric,

You’re very welcome. I’m glad I could help you find your perfect diamond.

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